Draft-Age Individuals Sought Across Khmelnytskyi Region
Authorities in Khmelnytskyi Oblast report that 54,516 individuals of military age, subject to mobilization, are currently listed in the police database as wanted. Since the start of the full-scale war, local Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers (TRCs and SSCs) have submitted requests to police units to locate 167,690 people. To date, 23,516 of those have been found and removed from the wanted list, including 4,813 individuals tracked down in 2026.
New Police Chief Takes Over in Khmelnytskyi
Ivan Ishchenko, previously the head of police in Chernihiv Oblast, was appointed as the new chief of Khmelnytskyi police on May 25. During his inaugural address, Ishchenko stated:
“There is a certain human resource that the country, the TRCs, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine must mobilize each month. We carry out everything required by our duties under Ukrainian law. Every day, we search for people and bring them in.” – Ivan Ishchenko
The police chief also emphasized that this is challenging work, often met with resistance to lawful police actions. He added:
“If police and TRC personnel act in accordance with the law and do not exceed their official authority, yet unlawful actions—including physical force—are used against them, that constitutes a violation of the law.” – Ivan Ishchenko
Notably, a court in Khmelnytskyi fined a senior soldier from a notification unit 17,000 hryvnias for exceeding his official authority. According to witnesses, video evidence shows the soldier grabbing a citizen by the arms from behind. The notification team was conducting a raid without wearing body cameras.
The ongoing search for draft-age individuals in Khmelnytskyi Oblast highlights law enforcement's active efforts to fulfill mobilization tasks during wartime. At the same time, the challenges faced by police reflect societal tensions and potential conflicts between citizens and government representatives. The incident involving the fined soldier illustrates the complexities encountered by law enforcement agencies in carrying out their duties, underscoring the need for all parties to adhere to the rule of law and mutual respect.
The ongoing efforts by law enforcement in Khmelnytskyi to locate draft evaders coincide with a rise in various forms of criminal activity in the region. Recently, police have also reported on the prevalence of online fraud schemes that target vulnerable citizens. Understanding these threats is crucial for residents, especially in light of the current mobilization efforts. To learn more about the most common internet fraud tactics affecting the area, read our detailed report on online scams in Khmelnytskyi.